Automobile water heater



May 23, 1950 R. LADUE 2,508,721

AUTOMOBILE WATER HEATER Filed 001'.. 18, 1946 Irnveni'or-z Rober-i:Londue.

Aitor-neg.

Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE WATERHEATER Robert Ladue, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 704,263

(Cl. 21S-38) 3 claims. l

This invention relates to a heating device and particularly to anelectrical heating device adapted to be used to heat an internalcombustion engine. Such engines are now commonly used in automobiles,and as is well known, trouble 1s often had in lstarting automobilesafter they have stood in very cold weather. Such internal combustionengines comprise .a cylinder block having a water chamber therein. It isdesirable to keep the water in said water chamber rather warm. Suchcylinder blocks also commonly have bores formed therein extending to thevwater chamber in which is disposed a bushing having means which willyield in case the water Ishould freeze. Breakage of the block due to theexpansion of the freezing water is thus prevented.

It is an object `of this invention to provide a simple and eiiicientheating means for the water in the water chamber, which means iseffectively supported :and positioned by one of said bushings.

It is further an object of the invention to provide `a heating devicefor the water in the water chamber of a cylinder block of an internalcombustion engine comprising a bushing or plug inserted in a bore ofsaid block, a member having a portion extending through a bore in saidbushing into said water chamber, a spacing member carried by and securedto said portion adapted to engage said bushing to determine the distancesaid portion projects into the water chamber, means preferably beingprovided to secure said bushing to said portion, an electrical heatingmeans in said portion, said member having a second portion disposedoutwardly of said bushing, spaced contacts carried by said secondportion to which said heating means is connected, a, conductor cordhaving a pair of conductors connected respectively vto said contacts andbeing adapted to be connected to a source of electric current.

It is more specifically van object of the invention to provide such adevice as set forth in the preceding paragraph, said first mentionedportion preferably being cylindrical, said spacing member beingpreferably in the form of a washer surrounding said cylindrical portionand said second portion being provided with la cover preferably ofcylindrical form and having an opening through `which said cordprojects.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through a portion of a cylinder block ofan internal combustion engine showing the device of the inventioninstalled therein, said device being shown in plan;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1,as indicated by the arrows, some parts being shown in side elevation;and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, as indicatedby the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, e, portion of a cylinder block I0 of aninternal combustion engine is shown showing the side wall Illa, a pairof cylinders Ib and a portion of the water chamber Ic. The wall Illa isprovided with a boss Id which is bored to receive a bushing or plug II.Bushing II is of cup-'shape form having its open side directed outwardlyand normally such a bushing has a part adapted to yield under pressure.In accordance with the present invention said bushing II is bored so asto receive the portion I2a of a member `I2. A spacing member I3 isprovided and while this might be variously formed, in the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated it is shown as a washer surrounding portionI2a, which portion is preferably cylindrical, and said washer will besecured to portion |2a in any suitable manner, as by welding, solderingor brazing. Member I3 is provided to determine the distance portion I2aprojects into the chamber Ic. It will thus be positioned at dierentpoints along portion I2a.. Bushing II is preferably secured to portionI2a and this can be done by soldering or welding, as indicated by themetal I4. Disposed within portion I2a is an electrical heating means I5'which will usually be in the form of a coil, as indicated in Fig. 2.Member I2 has an outer portion |211 and a pair of spaced contact membersI6 are secured to portion I2b. The ends of heating coil I5 are connectedrespectively to contact |16. Members I6 are in the form of binding postshaving nuts I'I threaded thereon and said posts have respectivelyconnected thereto and between said nuts the conductors I8 contained in aconductor cord I9 which will be equipped at its other end with the usualplug so as to be plugged into an electrical socket forming a source forelectric current. Portion I2b is provided with a cover 2B and while thismight be variously formed, it is shown as cylindrical and tting overportion I2b and having its end spun over a collar or annular rib lic onmember I2. The cover 20, which is made of rather thin metal, has asemi-spherical outer end having a central aperture therein in which isdisposed a bushing 2l preferably made of nonconducting material. Cord I9passes through bushing 2|. Cover 2U is preferably provided with aplurality of circumferentially spaced holes lia to aiord circulation anddrainage.

In operation bushing or plug I I will be removed and the same will bebored so that portion ita iits therein. Member i3 will now be placed onportion I2a and secured thereon at the desired point. Portion I2a willthen 'be inserted through the bore in bushing II and said bushing willbe secured to portion I2a by welding, soldering or brazing. The cord I9will be connected, as shown, and cover 2li positioned on member I2. xfheportion I2a is now passed through the bore in the Wall Ia and bushing IIis driven into place into said bore. Portion I2a is now' disposed in thewater chamber Ic and the distance it projects into said chamber isdetermined by the position of spacing member I3. The cord i9 will now beconnected with an electrical socket having the usual 110 volt current.When the car is standing for some time, as overnight, in a cold place orin a cold garage, heat can thus be supplied to the water in the waterchamber Ic by the heating element I5. The said water is thus kept at afairly high temperature so that there is no danger of its freezing andit is preferably kept at a temperature which will render it easier tostart the engine or motor.

From the above description it Iwill be seen that I have provided a verysimple and yet highly el cient heating'means for an internal combustionengine and one which can lbe very easily and quickly installed. Thedevice is small and compact and is carried by the motor without anyobjectionable features. The device has been amply demonstrated in actualpractice, found to be very successful and efficientY and is beingcommercially made.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, ar rangement and proportions of the parts, Withoutdeparting fromthe scope of applicants invention, which generally stated,consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above setforth, the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a cylindrical bushing disposed in the wall ofthe water jacket of an internal combustion engine cylinder block, saidbushing having a bore therein of a cylindrical member having a `portion,extending through said bore into said water chamber, means securing saidportion to said bushing, a second member adapted to be disposed on andconnected to said portion adjacent said means for engaging the outerside of said bushing to determine how iar said portion projects intosaid Water chamber, said cylindrical member having an enlarged portionextending outwardly some distance from said second member and bushing,the same having an annular rib projecting therefrom adjacent its outerend, an electrical heating means in said first mentioned portion havingends extending to the outer end of said enlarged portion, contacts atsaid outer end to which said ends are connected, a cord havingelectrical conductors connected to said contacts, and a cover having aninner end extending over said annular rib and fitting said enlargediportion, said cord passing through said cover.

Z. The combination with a cylindrical bushing disposed in the wall oi:`the water jacket of an internal combustion engine cylinder block, saidbushing having a bore therein of a cylindrical member having an innerportion extending through said bore into said water chamber and having alarger outer .portion extending outwardly some distance beyond the outerend of said bushing and having a projection on its periphery adjacentits outer end, an electrical heating means in said inner portion havingits ends extending through the outer end oi said outer portion, a secondmember secured to said inner portion and engaging the outer side oi saidbushing for determining the distance Which said inner ,portion extendsinto said water chamber, means securing said cylindrical member to saidbushing adjacent said second member, an electrical heating means in saidinner portion having ends extending to the outer side of said outerportion, contact members secured to said ends, a cord having conductorssecured to said contacts and a substantially closed cover having aninner end extending over said projection and fitting on said outerportion, said cord extending centrally through the outer end of saidcover.

3. The combination with a cylindrical bushing disposed in the wall ofthe Water jacket of an internal combustion engine cylinder block, saidbushing having a bore therein of a cylindrical member having a portionextending through said bore into said water chamber, a second memberconnected to said portion and engaging said bushing to determine how farsaid cylindrical member projects into said water chamber, saidcylindrical member having an enlarged outer portion projecting beyondsaid bushing, an electrical heating means in said cylindrical memberhaving terminals extending to the outer side of said outer portion,contacts secured to said outer side connected to said terminals, a cordhaving electrical conductors secured to said contacts, a substantiallyclosed cover iitting on said outer portion and enclosing said contacts,said cord passing through said cover and being adapted to have aconnecting plug at itsouter end.

ROBERT LADUE.

REFERENCES CITEDv The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,242,711 Magee Oct. 9, 19171,400,354 Fraser Dec. 13, 1921 1,655,434 OMalley et al. Jan. 10, 19281,692,164 Fromm Nov. 20, 1928 1,916,237 Sloan July 4, 1933

